The Greek original, "ξεκωλιάρα του Βερολίνου," means literally
"girl with an open a**hole," according to the English-language
site, but can also refer metaphorically to someone who has no
shame.

After listeners complained, the Greek broadcasting authority,
ESR, reprimanded Trangas this week for abusing the Greek language
and making obscene characterizations about the German chancellor.
His station will have to pay the resulting fine, which amounts to
more than $33,000.

"At 63, I'm being told that I'm a typical Balkan southerner, who
is lazy and a schemer. Really! I've been working since I was 16!
I've worked night and day for a half a century. So why are we
told we're lazy and crooks?," he asked on morning TV.

Trangas is well known for his resentment of what he perceives as
German imperialism over its struggling euro-zone neighbours. Back
in 2010, months after the start of violent demonstrations against
Greek austerity measures, German magazine Der
Spiegel reported on Trangas's calls for a boycott of
German products and diatribes against "German corruption."

More recently Trangas has resorted to Nazi stereotypes, accusing
Berlin of making Greece "a German protectorate of the Fourth
Reich in southern Europe," the Spiegel
noted.

Germans have been known to Greek-bait back, however. Last
year German magazine
Focus ran a front cover featuring the iconic Venus de
Milo statue, middle finger up, a stained Greek
flag round her waist, under the headline: "Cheats in the euro
family." Ten journalists were sued for libel in Athens over the
offending issue.

Yet the war of words may well be confined to the media. Hundreds
of Greeks a day are signing up for German classes in
Athens, Reuters
reported this week – meaning that they'll soon be
able to offer the exact translation of what Merkel's critics are
calling her.